Topics in Category: Media and Information Literacy - Cordillera Views Forumhttp://cordilleraviews.com
Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:05:49 +0000Joomla! - Open Source Content Management/media/kunena/images/icons/rss.pngTopics in Category: Media and Information Literacy - Cordillera Views Forumen-gbTHE ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRACY - by: Elaica Shanehttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/74-the-role-of-media-in-a-democracy?start=84#6012
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/74-the-role-of-media-in-a-democracy?start=84#6012
A democracy without media is like a vehicle without wheels. Since media also exposes the loopholes in a democratic system, which ultimately helps the government to fill the vacuum of these loopholes and to make the system more accountable, responsible, and citizen-friendly`
Media is like a watchdog in a democracy threat helps the government active. From being just an informer it has become an integral part of our lives. And he evolution of media led to beginning of a new era in democracy.

2. Media played as a watchdog against corruption in the government. Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain or for own sake. It is the gravest threat to Philippine democracy and society today. The Philippines suffers from widespread corruption including graft, bribery, backdoor deals, nepotism, patronage and embezzlement. There are many government official being caught and imprisoned because of being corrupt, Joseph Ejercito Etstrada was found guilty by the sandiganbayan (anti-gaft court) for plunder, Janet Napoles known as the “pork barrel queen” she was said to

Media watches the actions of the government official through those journalist and other concern people wherein they share information and letting the people know about the good and bad things and actions that they had been doing all over. Media watches them wherever they are people know where they go, what they do, to whom are they with, who is his/her companion during that certain time and other action. Just a few steps in media or technology, you will be able know the things you want to know about the person in the government.]]>Media and Information LiteracyTue, 16 Jan 2018 12:37:29 +0000DIGITAL POSTER - by: Elaica Shanehttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/75-digital-poster?start=24#5983
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/75-digital-poster?start=24#5983Media and Information LiteracyWed, 10 Jan 2018 07:21:04 +0000Delta Tourist Destinations - by: Elaica Shanehttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/73-delta-tourist-destinations#5977
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/73-delta-tourist-destinations#5977Media and Information LiteracyTue, 09 Jan 2018 05:23:35 +0000Charlie Tourist Destinations - by: gracefaghttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5062-charlie-tourist-destinations?start=6#5966
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5062-charlie-tourist-destinations?start=6#5966Media and Information LiteracyMon, 08 Jan 2018 00:59:25 +0000Panonot Jomar - by: Jemilbanban@gmail.comhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5713-panonot-jomar#5839
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5713-panonot-jomar#5839Media and Information LiteracySun, 24 Dec 2017 08:58:06 +0000Jede sawate - by: Jemilbanban@gmail.comhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5709-jede-sawate#5835
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5709-jede-sawate#5835Media and Information LiteracyThu, 21 Dec 2017 02:53:57 +0000Mexico dalisan - by: Jemilbanban@gmail.comhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5708-mexico-dalisan#5834
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5708-mexico-dalisan#5834Media and Information LiteracyThu, 21 Dec 2017 02:38:29 +0000Poster - by: Elimhardapigenhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5707-poster#5833
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5707-poster#5833Media and Information LiteracyThu, 21 Dec 2017 02:21:46 +0000The power point report - by: Elimhardapigenhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5703-the-power-point-report#5824
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5703-the-power-point-report#5824Media and Information LiteracyWed, 20 Dec 2017 09:18:14 +0000The power point report - by: Jemilbanban@gmail.comhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5702-the-power-point-report#5822
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5702-the-power-point-report#5822Media and Information LiteracyWed, 20 Dec 2017 08:35:32 +0000The power point report - by: Jemilbanban@gmail.comhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5701-the-power-point-report#5821
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/5701-the-power-point-report#5821Media and Information LiteracyWed, 20 Dec 2017 08:34:33 +0000Bravo Tourist Destinations - by: Jhaysahttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/71-bravo-tourist-destinations?start=12#5812
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/71-bravo-tourist-destinations?start=12#5812Media and Information LiteracyTue, 19 Dec 2017 01:36:00 +0000Alpha Tourist Destinations - by: felyhttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/70-alpha-tourist-destinations#62
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/70-alpha-tourist-destinations#62
HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION:
1. Sign in to
www.cordilleraviews.com/forum/index
2. Submit your output as an attachment in a reply to this thread.
3. I'm just a text away if you get lost.

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

“If your lens doesn’t need cleaning at the end of a shoot, you didn’t get close enough.”
-Rich Murphy, photojournalist

Television is not simply radio with pictures. Indeed, pictures are the most important part of our television news stories simply because people will remember what they see before they remember what they hear, so “show, don’t tell”. Aim to have pictures that are
memorable for the pictures are your visual proof.

Visual storytelling is really an art, but it is an art that we can learn and practice. But before you begin to shoot you need to know what your objective is, what is the focus of your story? What is the editorial focus and what is the visual focus. By determining this you can then decide what pictures you’ll need to capture even before going out into the field. Also, while it may seem obvious, you need to know what equipment is available, how to use it, and feel comfortable with it or you won’t be able to use it effectively or with confidence. This is not something you can learn in the field!

Remember that television is a collaborative effort and in order for that team to work effectively you need to communicate with your team, be it your photographer, reporter, producer or editor so that everybody knows what the story is. You need to discuss what shots are needed and decide the best way to do the story in the available time.

When you do go into the field to begin shooting, you should strive to do several things. First, remember your goal is to prove the focus of your story with sound and pictures. The pictures are the visual proof of the story you are telling. Ask yourself “what pictures will tell this story with a minimum of words?” and strive to capture mood and emotion.

Second, remember that we are storytellers and that stories have 3 basic elements: beginning, middle and end and your visuals also need to illustrate those elements. The opening shot, or beginning, of a story is usually illustrated with a wide shot. The middle of the story is made up of medium and tight shots and the story will usually end with another wide shot.

Third, some shots are better for telling stories than others. The shots that best tell stories include close-ups, faces, action and reaction and detail. Television is a close-up medium so shoot lots of close-ups. When you do shoot close-ups don’t shoot from across the room –you need to get close to whatever you’re shooting!

It may seem strange, but perhaps the most difficult aspect of shooting is to gather good, usable audio. What usually happens is that we become so consumed with getting all the right shots and sequences that we forget all about sound. Remember, television storytelling is composed of pictures, clips, narration or voice over and natural sound so always monitor your audio. You need to listen for, and then capture, good, vivid natural sound.

In the field make sure that you discipline your shooting --know what you’re shooting and why. Once you have the technique down then you can enhance your visual storytelling by finding unique compositions and experimenting. If you have a tripod, use it.

While shooting is part of the production process, what you shoot will ultimately need to be edited and thus you need to shoot accordingly. There are a couple of things you should always make an effort at shooting. First, don’t forget to shoot cutaways or you’ll have a difficult time when it comes to editing. A cutaway is a brief shot used to establish visual continuity between two shots. They are most commonly used when editing together two clips from the same interview.

Second, make an effort at shooting sequences everywhere you go. A sequence is a series of shots that, when edited, gives the impression of continuous action. In essence, a sequence tells a mini-story in compressed time and helps explain a key story idea in a more effective fashion than could be done using random shots.

Sequences are easy, they just take practice. The basic three shot sequence is composed of an opening wide shot followed by a medium shot and then finishing with a close up.

Finally, understand that there is a corresponding reaction to every shot you make and always ask yourself what is the corresponding reaction to the shot you’re making now?

You need to think ahead and anticipate where the action is going next and position yourself to make the shot.

A few more photography tips:

shoot what is going away first (because it’s not coming back!)
shoot and move
remember, the eye does not zoom so be judicious in your use of zooms
interviews can be visual too; try to shoot your sources in their natural environment
shoot at the subject’s level, so if you’re shooting a child get down to your knees and
shoot on their level

To sum up:

To illustrate a story visually you have to know what the story is
Come up with a focus statement
Execute your focus statement
Communicate with your photographer, reporter, and producer so that everybody knows what the story is
There are 3 basic elements to every story: beginning, middle and end
You can visualize a story very easily by remembering and applying some simple visual clues
The beginning of the story is usually a wide shot
The middle of the story is made up of medium and tight shots
The story usually ends with another wide shot
Practice by shooting a story, without sound, and honestly evaluate your efforts
Discipline your shooting. No wild rolls.
Once you have the technique down, enhance your visual storytelling by finding unique compositions
Tripods

Sequence, Sequence, Sequence

Good sequences elevate your photography to the level of broadcast professional
Sequences are easy, they just take practice
Get into the habit of trying to figure out how to place yourself (and hence the viewer) closer to the action.
And understand that there is a corresponding reaction to every shot you make. If you shoot a shot of a waitress pouring a cup of coffee for a customer, there are obvious sequences that await your creative eye.
The waitress pours the coffee
The customer looks at the waitress with fond thanks
The waitress smiles back in anticipation of a huge tip
The cup steams as coffee fills
Customer mouths thanks
Waitress nods and walks off
Just always ask yourself, What’s the corresponding reaction to the shot you’re making now?

Think ahead. In real life you have to anticipate where the action is going next and position yourself to make the shot
Once you learn how to sequence, you can then manipulate and break the rules

Miscellaneous

+You have to love people, include people in your stories, people make the story live
+Don’t forget audio –get that natural sound
+Try walking shots and Experiment]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 03:00:52 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Natural Sound - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/37-news-gathering-natural-sound#29
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/37-news-gathering-natural-sound#29

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Natural or ambient sound is sound that occurs in the environment. Some call it background sound. It is the sound that, when we stop and listen, we hear all around us. It is the birds singing, the traffic roaring, horns blaring, people talking, fluorescent lights humming, kids playing. Natural sound is a crucial aspect of broadcast news stories and helps to not only tell the story, but also to illustrate it, to create a visual image in our audience’s mind. This is particularly important in radio when we don’t have visuals.

Examples of natural sound (or nats, for short):
•a story on traffic congestion would include nats of traffic and perhaps of traffic police blowing their whistles and people honking their horns
•a story on the working conditions of port employees would include nats of the workers at work, general sound at the port, ships’ whistles blasting There are also two types of natural sound: foreground sound and background sound. You can think of the foreground sound as the close-up shot we use in television and the background shot as the wide-shot or long shot. Foreground sound gets close to the source of the sound, while the background sound is broader, encompassing different sounds from a greater area.

In our first example, the background sound would be the sound of the traffic in general. Our foreground sound could be captured by getting close to the traffic police and recording the sound of them yelling or blowing their whistles. In many cases sound in broadcast is used similarly to the way we use punctuation in writing perhaps as an exclamation mark, or is used to set the scene, to bring the audience closer to the story.

Remember, telling a broadcast story involves the weaving together of several elements:
visuals (if television), natural sound, narration track and clips. Effectively weaving these elements together will not only tell a story people aren’t likely to forget but will also tell the whole story.

Collecting natural sound does take practice and some sounds (water, for example) are muchmore difficult to record than others. Keep practicing and experimenting and use different microphones if you have them available. Ultimately, your stories will be that much richer for the use of natural sound.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 02:36:49 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Covering Events - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/36-news-gathering-covering-events#28
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/36-news-gathering-covering-events#28

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

One of the most common things we cover are events, whether they are meetings, press conferences or political hearings. One of the most common things we do every time we cover a meeting is to cover it exactly as we did the last time. Unfortunately, most reporters, after covering countless meetings, get into a rut and simply go to the meeting to cover the meeting, instead of looking for the story behind the meeting. –by speaking to the people who will, or are, ultimately affected by what’s discussed at the meeting.

In other words, use the press release or news conference as a launching point for your story. Make phone calls. See who’s effected, who isn’t. Does it cost money? Who pays? Who does it help? Will anyone suffer? For example, if you are told to cover a conference on HIV/AIDS, don’t simply go to the conference. Instead, go to locations, such as a clinic, where you might find people affected by the story or disagreeing with it i.e. such as health care professionals, people with HIV and AID activists.

Here are some tips to help you break out of the meeting “rut”:

•get the agenda early, don’t just cover the meeting, look for a particular aspect of the meeting that your audience would be interested in
•arrive for the meeting early and interview sources before the meeting gets started
•when shooting the meeting, shoot from different angles and points of view. Too often we shoot every meeting in exactly the same way and after a while they all look the same.
•don’t simply cover the meeting --look for the story behind the meeting
•find the people that are affected by the meeting and speak to them
•even if you’re in a situation where you are expected to cover a meeting merely because a government official is in attendance, you can still bring back a clip from the official but you can also bring back a real story with real people by looking beyond the event and asking yourself (and then sources) what the story behind the event is.

Clearly, the overriding message we get from these tips is that there is usually an official reason for such meetings. It is your job to find the real story and the real people behind the meeting. Indeed, often these people will actually be in attendance but they won’t be the ones on the stage or in your face. You’ll have to seek them out.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 02:29:43 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Working with Translations, News Releases and Wire Copy - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/35-news-gathering-working-with-translations-news-releases-and-wire-copy#27
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/35-news-gathering-working-with-translations-news-releases-and-wire-copy#27

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Much of the information you will use is often not in your working language or is in the form of a press release or wire copy. Each of these situations presents certain challenges, but many of these challenges are similar. First, in each of these cases you have to take ownership of the story. To do this you must first decide whether the information is in fact newsworthy. Second, you should try to develop the story, looking for a second source.

Finally, you’ll have to write the story or “rewrite” it for broadcast. To do this you need to read the story, understand the story and then put it away and begin writing your version. If you become tied to the original copy you won’t be able to write it in broadcast form or in your own words. You need to speak as you write, and write as you speak. Remember that broadcast writing is a different language than writing for print but it’s a language you already know –the one you speak every day.

Perhaps one of the simplest methods to do “rewrites” is the following. First, read the story or news release. Second, answer your 5 Ws and H questions and then come up with your focus statement. Then put the original source away and simply begin writing based on your focus and your 5 Ws, referring to the original copy only when you need to check facts for accuracy.

Press releases present their own challenges. Remember that there is usually an agenda behind the release: an organization, institution or government official is likely looking for some publicity for the latest project. It is your role as reporter or editor to assess whether the story is in fact newsworthy. To make this assessment consider the following:

•Check the release for accuracy and for “the other side of the story.” The facts may be accurate but not complete.
•Often what is at the beginning of the release is not the news; read the entire release and then edit.
•Look for ways to be interesting. A story with a human angle will get a lot more attention than one that sounds like an interoffice memo
•Look for the story behind the event.
•Look for additional sources rather than simply speaking to the author of the release.

Finally, when relying on wire copy for information remember that the people writing the copy are reporters just like you and they too make mistakes. Always confirm any information you use from the wires.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 02:13:30 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Investigative Reporting - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/34-news-gathering-investigative-reporting#26
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/34-news-gathering-investigative-reporting#26

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Story must be interesting, important and compelling.

Investigative reporting can be very expensive, depending on the nature of the story.

•No story means no piece so it takes time to develop
•TV needs specifics, not generalities. Not good at abstract ideas.
•TV wants original stories.
•Print reporter unlikely to share his sources.
•You must work the phones. (show empathy, concern-apologize)

Key is great sources. (Bureaucrats, private cops) who you have already cultivated and will call you on their own initiative. You must trust them. That takes time.

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

There are many things that never change when we practice journalism and one of these is that we deal with sources on a daily basis. Because of this it is important that we learn how to cultivate sources and how to work with them. Perhaps the first question we should ask is: who is or who can be a source? The answer is anyone and everyone as long as they are providing us with information that is reliable and accurate. Develop contacts with a wide variety of people who may have useful information. In other words, don’t simply rely on government ministers or experts and other officials as your sources
–speak to the people living the story or who are affected by the story –they are sources too. In fact, they are the sources that your audience will most be able to identify with and remember.

It is important to cultivate sources from a variety of places but too often when we work under deadline pressure we resort to the same sources time and time again. Try to create a mindset where you are constantly looking for new sources who may have a different point of view, who lend diversity to your story, or who may even give you new story ideas. Develop a list of sources, contact information and notes about the source (availability, expertise, etc.). Lock it in the drawer of your desk.

Also remember that no matter where or whom your information comes from you must find another source to confirm it. The rule is: two sources unless there is an extraordinary reason. Never believe anything until you check it out.

Finally, you’ll often encounter sources who are reluctant to speak to you or are especially reluctant to speak on camera. Don’t allow your source to speak “off the record” or anonymously unless that is clearly the only way to get the information. But keep in mind that if you agree to this, not only are you ethically bound to respect the agreement you’ve made but then you also are in the position of finding another source to confirm this information and to do so on tape or on camera.

Remember, it is part of your job to get these people to speak, to coax them and to encourage them to share their story. Explain to them how important their story is and how many other people will benefit from hearing their story. If they still refuse then ask them if they know someone else that will speak to you. Unfortunately, the reality is that in many countries there is still a culture of fear when it comes to dealing with the media. It is up to us to try to break through this culture of fear and convince people to speak to us.

See also: Attribution and Use of Sound bites]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 02:00:05 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Interviewing for Television and Radio Broadcast - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/32-news-gathering-interviewing-for-television-and-radio-broadcast#24
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/32-news-gathering-interviewing-for-television-and-radio-broadcast#24

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Interviewing is perhaps the most important skill in the pursuit of journalism, but the one we take the most for -granted and prepare for the least. Below are some tips to keep in mind as you set out to interview. These tips are useful regardless of whether you are doing a live television interview or a taped interview in the field. Prepare the questions. Keep them as short as possible. Above all –LISTEN. Do not rush blindly on from one written question to the next.

You must make sure your questions are on target so you get precisely what you need and/or want. You need to be conscious of getting a suitable sound bite –this is much more crucial in TV than in radio where one can simply edit two segments of a clip together. In TV we need to make sure we get the bite we need, but in all cases it is imperative that we shoot cutaways so that if we do have to edit two clips together we can do it seamlessly to cover the so-called lip flap.

Regardless of whether you work in radio or television, your goal is the same: to get a good clip. In order to do this you need to know what makes a good clip and then you have to ask the questions that will lead to your source giving you the good clip. Incidentally, there is a very practical reason for being organized with your questions. If
you are not, your questions will likely wander and you will burn up lots of videotape. That will cost you time in the editing room.

As I said before, the most important thing to do during an interview is to listen! Listen to the answer instead of thinking of the
next question. Listening produces follow up questions, which can create insightful exchanges. If you follow this simple rule your interviews will improve greatly.

Interviewing Tips
Dress appropriately.
Arrive a little early. Set up always takes some time. And if you’re late, you may have missed your opportunity to interview this person.
Break the ice and make a good first impression. Make your interviewee feel relaxed.
Be prepared. Make sure you’ve researched the topic, prepared your questions and know
as much as possible about the person you’re interviewing.
Know what you want to get from the interview. What’s your plan? What’s your focus?
Your interviewee should know the topic of the interview but you should never reveal your questions in advance unless there is some extraordinary circumstance that I can’t think of. You can disclose the general subject matter but never the specific questions.
You are the one in control –never give up your microphone or control of the interview.
Listen, listen, and listen. Don’t be a slave to your questions. Listening will lead to follow up questions. The best reporters are great listeners.
Mic the questions if possible.
Always have extra batteries, tapes, mini-disks etc.
Know how your equipment works. It is embarrassing (and unprofessional) if you don’t know how it works.
Get the spelling and pronunciation of your interviewee’s name. This is a good way to begin an interview and to make sure your gear is working. You can also check audio levels this way.
Be persistent but courteous. Ask, ask and ask again (rule of 3’s).
Ask for clarification. Ask for examples.
Don’t be intimidated.
Watch your interviewee’s body language.
Take notes during the interview. Note details of the location, what the person is wearing, anything that will add color to your story. Remember, one of your roles is that of observer.
At the end of the interview, ask if the interviewee if he/she has anything to add, if s/he recommends other people you should speak to and whether you may call back later with questions.
If your source makes requests to speak confidentially or “off-the-record”, be prepared to respond in an appropriate way. Off-the-record means you can’t use the information unless you get it confirmed by someone else.
Practice, practice, practice. Interviewing is the toughest skill in journalism, but perhaps the most important. Keep practicing. You might also get someone to interview you so you know what it’s like to be in the interviewee’s shoes.

What questions to ask?
•Always ask the questions that your audience wants answered.
•Avoid closed-ended questions.
•Avoid double-barreled questions. Ask one question at a time.
•Keep questions short and to the point.
•Do not make assumptions.
•Do not argue.
•Never try to cover too much.Remember, focus.
•Have a final question that wraps up your interview.
•When you finish your questions, ask your interviewee if he/she has anything to add.

The 10 Deadly Sins (or how NOT to conduct an interview)
1.The non-question (make sure you actually ask a question)
2.Double-barreled question (ask one question at a time)
3.Overloaded questions (avoid questions with too many parts or too many elements)
4.Leading questions
5.Comments (don’t insert comments into your question)
6.Big presuppositions (don’t makeassumptions)
7.Trigger words (people will react to the word rather than the question)
8.Hyperbole (less is more so don’t exaggerate)
9.Complexity (keep it simple)
10.Closed-ended questions
(Source: VJ Handbook)

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

In many cases there are obvious stories that we need to cover: breaking news, news conferences, policy-oriented stories and the like. However, we often get into the habit of relying on the news releases that arrive by fax or phone calls from government ministries announcing an event. Every press release should be considered a starting point not an ending point. Ask yourself, why is it being released? Why now? Who does it effect and how? Who can I call to shed light on it other than the author? What’s the message behind the message?
What we often forget, however, is that there are endless stories in our community that go unnoticed, but which are indeed newsworthy. Too we spend our time in the newsroom complaining that there’s no news or that it’s a slow news day, when in fact we couldn’t be further from the truth. There is always news happening, it’s just not happening in our newsrooms! We should be outside, in our communities, walking or driving through different neighborhoods, talking to different people and looking around us
–that’s where the best stories are!

Here are some tips in developing story ideas to help you move away from covering government or business “handouts” and moving towards reporting real stories involving your community.

* listen –what are people talking about on the streets, in the buses, in the shops?
* always be on the hunt for a story be curious and ask questions
* look around you
*talk to your photographers, peers and friends
*if you cover a beat find appropriate discussion groups on-line
*change the focus of a story –often that will give you a new angle
*start with your own experiences
*read everything you can get your hands on
*go wandering (do a “walkabout”)
*listen for a different point of view
*measure change –look at who’s affected by the statistics; look inside the numbers
*don’t just cover an event –look at the issue that’s behind that event
*compare and contrast –provide context
*localize –look for the local connection of a national or international story
*look towards the future
*follow up; assume every story hasa follow up
*always ask (and answer) the question why
*brainstorm
*create new contacts
*go to where the pack isn’t
*when out in the field, look in the opposite direction
*arrive early for meetings
*when covering meetings make sure to look at the entire agenda –you may spot something you weren’t aware of
*pay attention to advertisements
*drive (or walk) around your beat or community as often as possible. Visit your beat at night.
*vary your commute every now and then
*switch your focus
*turn a story on its head. If the macro view has been done, do the micro view and vice versa
*check in with sources periodically
*always end interviews by asking if there is “anything else going on?”]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 01:35:55 +0000Finding the Story: Where do ideas come from? - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/30-finding-the-story-where-do-ideas-come-from#22
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/30-finding-the-story-where-do-ideas-come-from#22

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Where do most news stories come from? If they’re honest, journalists will tell you that a lot of the stories they do are pretty routine. Breaking news from the scanners, scheduled events from the daybook, consumer complaints and “franchise” stories like health news. But ask them where the best stories come from and you’ll get a very different list. Those stories come from deep reporting, from observing the world, or from conversations that have nothing to do with “the news.”

Wait, observing? Sure. Journalists should be genuinely curious about the world around them and inspired to learn more about what they see, like the people featured in this video by Andrew Norton, a multimedia producer from Toronto.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 01:19:35 +0000The Multimedia Mindset: Remember the reader - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/29-the-multimedia-mindset-remember-the-reader#21
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/29-the-multimedia-mindset-remember-the-reader#21

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

When you produce a story, are you thinking of how people are going to consume it? Mick Côté, digital news editor at The Canadian Press, says that in most newsrooms the answer is typically, “No.” And that’s a shame.

“We’re so drawn to our own stuff we forget to take a step back and ask, ‘Is it realistic to think that people are going to read it?'” Not considering the audience means that we often write stories that are too long, Côté says, especially for mobile. His rule of thumb for mobile stories? Cap them at 500 words.

Want to know what your story will look like on a mobile screen? Here’s a dead simple trick Côté recommends: Break your text into three columns. You should be able to tell at a glance whether your paragraphs are too long.

Journalists who don’t think of the audience may discount some social networks because they don’t find them interesting. Reddit, for example, is great place to share stories and get information, Côté says. When he worked at the Montreal Gazette, “Whenever a story got picked up on Reddit it was bound to be the most read story of the day, beyond anything on Facebook. People on Reddit are super active and really pay attention to the content.”

But Côté warns that Reddit will shut you down if you post from a news organization account. “It’s about building relationships as individuals and sharing stories,” he says. “We’re not above the community we serve. We need to be part of the community.”

Another way of remembering the reader is to be transparent with your audience about the work you do. People are big fans of “behind the scenes” accounts, Côté says, so keeping a log of the steps you take to get a story and sharing that chronicle will make the news process clearer. It could also help rebuild the public’s trust in the news media. Can’t hurt, anyway.

For journalists in the field, Côté says, it’s crucial to know the strengths of your phone. “You have the technology. Explore it.” Côté’s smartphone is now his top production tool. “I used to have a Nikon with me at all times,” he says. “It’s in the back of the closet now.” At a minimum, reporters should know how to edit a photo, how to shoot video and basic video editing.

Two more pieces of advice for journalists just starting out:

Check your fairness: As a new reporter, Côté would color code his stories. Every quote got its own color–usually green for “pro” and red for “anti”–so he could see at a glance how much space each viewpoint received and whether his account was evenhanded.

Find allies. “There is ageism in the industry,” Côté observes. Young journalists are digital natives, so they know their way around a lot of technology that baffles or frightens some of their colleagues. “Show people how you do things,” Côté suggests. “Be willing to learn and to teach.”

A version of this story was originally posted at
NEWSLAB
and is shared here by permission.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 01:12:41 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Focus - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/28-news-gathering-focus#20
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/28-news-gathering-focus#20

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Focus
Focus is, in essence, the angle of a story. Most journalists when pitching stories suggest something which when really thought about is unwieldy. For example, a reporter pitches a story on street kids. But what precisely is the story? What is the angle? What is the focus? Let’s take a look at the process of coming up with a focus.

Clearly, any production, like any news report, begins with an IDEA. In the example above, the idea is “street kids”.

The idea: For an idea to become a news report or feature it should satisfy certain criteria:

The first and most important question: Will anyone care? How do they feel about it? If they don’t care or have no feelings we either move on to another person or re-think the story. We can find out by asking ourselves:

Is it relevant to people’s health/income, their family or friends, their quality of life, their neighborhood, their country? That’s a descending order on purpose.

The second question: Will it hurt or help them? Make them happy or mad? Touch them or leave them cold. The selfish side wins most of the time.

But when the story is not so obvious, what do you do? You must have a reason to do the story and it must mean something to somebody. Let’s come up with a process:

Research: Fast proving research helps you establish the credentials of a story. If after this initial research you can’t find a good reason to do the story –again, it should mean something to a good number of people –then you must decide whether to go ahead with it at all. If that proving research tells you the IDEA has a chance, then youcan move to the next stage:

FOCUS.
Focus: So what is focus and why should you care? It is your most valuable journalistic tool –in print, radio, or TV, a short news item or a documentary. A focus statement is a simple sentence that contains three elements: who, what and why. Or simply: someone is
doing something because.

Focus is crucial for journalists as it helps you to clearly define what your story is and what elements you’ll need in order to do the story. A focus also helps keep you on track, as you do your story, it reminds you what the story is about and where you’re going.

Without a clear focus, your story will be all over the place, will have too many elements and will likely be confusing for the audience
Focus statements have the following common elements:

•each is a simple declarative statement
•each contains cause and effect
•each is based on research
•each contains a reference to people
•each has an emotional as well as factual side to it
•each defines what should be put IN and what left OUT
•each has a subject, verb and object

Let’s go back to the street kids’ story. Your RESEARCH will quickly tell you this is an interesting topic about which many might care
–but it’s an enormous topic, which must be narrowed down or focused. Without a FOCUS you could be researching for months.
How do you narrow it down? Your research will offer several choices. For instance:
−Authorities are concerned because the number of street children is rising.
−Street children are living on the streets because of abuse at home.
−Tourists feel unsafe because the street kids harass them.

Now along with FOCUS there are two other elements: POINT-OF-VIEW (POV) and TONE. This does not mean advocacy but simply the point of view, in other words, through which main character/s will you tell the story? In focus #1 we are telling the story from the POV of the authorities as they are likely to dominate the story. However, this does not mean that we will not hear from other characters. Indeed, we must also speak to street children as they are crucial to the story.
As for tone, this particular story will likely be official and serious in tone with comments from the authorities, but it will also include comments from street children.

FOCUS: Tourists feel unsafe because the street children harass them.
The focus is now from the POV of tourists
–that means you’ll be researching mostly for tourists. Again, this does not mean you’ll lose objectivity! Obviously the claims of
tourists will be balanced with those of the street children and perhaps also local officials.

The tone will be different, more emotional than story #1 as ordinary people will play a larger part. You can come up with a number of different focus statements for this story with each one suggesting what makes it in to the story and what is left out. You will also consider how the research can be narrowed, how the characters and their POV might vary and how the tone will change depending on the focus.

After you’ve done your research, established your focus, tone and point of view, then you need to do your full research for facts. It is important to bear in mind, however, that if your full research shows that your focus is wrong or not precise, you’ll have to change it according to the facts of the story.

So, to tell an effective story you can follow this process:
•Gather all the essential and interesting facts –then pare them down to what is needed to tell the story well and honestly...the story of your FOCUS; stay on your chosen route, don’t wander all over the map.
•Seek out, build in, and never waste your natural sound.
•Add context –Use it to show your understanding of the story’s essence and also how it fits into the larger picture.
•The human drama to make the story live and breathe and kick up its heels –
without dramatic tension your story will be lifeless. (Not hype or faked drama.)
•The people with whose story the listener/viewer can identify. Most good reporting has people in it –real people like those around you –not the homogenous institutional officials and experts with which most stories unfortunately abound, but
real people who speak with a passion that affects the viewers.
•Finally, build the story to a climax, or some kind of resolution.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 01:06:54 +0000NEWS GATHERING: Storytelling - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/27-news-gathering-storytelling#19
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/27-news-gathering-storytelling#19

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

One of our primary jobs as journalists is to be engaging storytellers because if not viewers will lose interest and not pay attention. Television stories, told properly, can change the way people think and live their lives. How do we do that? Let’s start with the elements that every story should, ideally, have:

Strong Character (a person or personalization)
Plotline (builds viewer interest and then hit them with the story)
Surprise (hold back, hold back and then reveal)
Conflict and Resolution (emotion and drama)
Then you put all of these elements together with a beginning, middle and end.

Clearly, not all stories can be (nor should they be) told in the same way. It is up to you as the journalist to decide how each particular story should be reported. Should the story be told in a simple 30 second story, or is the story so compelling it should be produced in a full package? Below are some possible formats in which we can tell stories.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 00:50:21 +0000What is News? - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/26-what-is-news#18
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/26-what-is-news#18

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

What is News?
News is many different things to different people; however, there are some traditional news criteria that should be kept in mind when deciding what to cover and how. The news criteria include:

•Stories that are interesting (know your viewers)
•Stories that have an impact
•Stories that inform
•Stories that are unusual
•Stories about something new
•Stories about conflict
•Stories with strong characters

When researching your story always remember the 5 Ws. Each one is essential to the whole. Together they tell the story.

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
And:
How? What really happened?

Additional questions for news value consideration are:

Why is it important?
What’s going to happen next?
What is the point?

Always ask the money question (Where did the money come from? What is the money being spent on?) and always look for irony.

When covering a story there are several steps you’ll have to go through before the story finally makes it to air:

•Researching means all the preparation work that precedes going into the field to record or shoot material for broadcast.
•Fact checking is making sure everything to be reported on the air is correct.
•Accuracy is getting it right.
•Balance is making sure that the other side/s of a story gets its/their say.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 00:44:48 +0000Reporting with Props - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/25-reporting-with-props#17
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/25-reporting-with-props#17
Bringing props into a feature story adds another element to the story. Viewers see the reporter holding, wearing, or using a prop, making the scene more active.

It’s more interesting to watch because the reporter is doing something. They are holding that free cup of coffee the local coffee shop is giving out, they are petting the cute puppy that is up for adoption, or playing a carnival game at the county fair. All these situations are more visually appealing than watching a reporter describe these things while the photographer films the scene.

The reporter becomes more involved with the story when they use props, bringing another dimension to viewers. The story becomes more realistic to viewers when they see they can participate in what the reporter is covering.

Cory McCloskey‘s feature story on archery demonstrates how to successfully employ props:

[redlasso id=”00756792-2d6f-455f-9912-863c896cfa2a”]

McCloskey holds the bow for viewers to see. He looks it up and down so the audience focus is on the bow. By focusing on a tangible aspect of the story, McCloskey diverts attention from himself, and directs it to the event he is covering.

Viewers like visuals. A talking head does not always keep the audiences’ attention.

He then feels and holds what is called the trigger and later shoots the bow and arrow. By actively using props, McCloskey makes the story more realistic to viewers because they can see what McCloskey is explaining.

The viewer feels more engaged with the story because McCloskey is making his words come to life through actively using props.

Using props also makes the storyteller more conversational.

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

In Heather Ford’s live-shot The Wonderful World of Paintball, Ford dresses in paintball gear, making her more personable.

Because Ford is willing to wear paintball gear and even join a game, she is no longer a serious reporter, but an ordinary person, with whom viewers can better relate. She probably got better interviews too, because the paintball participants viewed her as a friendly out-going person who they are more willing to talk to, rather than an intimidating reporter with a camera.

By wearing the paintball gear and shooting the gun, Ford makes the story more visually entertaining. She is no longer a spectator, but puts herself into the story, making it more interactive.

The bottom line is, use props when possible. Imagine if these two reporters didn’t use props and simply pointed to their surroundings. Actively using props in live feature stories adds visual entertainment, making it more enjoyable for viewers to watch.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 00:32:00 +0000Reporting using Voice - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/24-reporting-using-voice#16
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/24-reporting-using-voice#16
A reporter’s voice affects the meaning of a report. How a reporter says something creates a certain tone and clearly points out key facts.

It is important for the reporter to give value and meaning to their words.

Main points of the report may not be clear if the reporter does not put emphasis on key words by changing the pitch, tone, or inflection of their voice.

Lowering your voice, or using a downward inflection, when saying a key word stresses certainty and conveys a more serious tone. Raising your voice, or using an upward inflection, when saying a key word conveys doubt, uncertainty or excitement.

Speaking in a monotone voice will lose the audiences’ attention, as there is no variation or excitement portrayed in the report. If a reporter speaks in a monotone voice, viewers may perceive the reporter as uninterested in the story.

Use a conversational, but authoritative voice

Voice coach Ann Utterback recommends broadcasters to speak like they are talking to a good friend. This conversational tone creates a better relationship with the audience because the reporter sounds like he or she is engaging in a personal conversation with the viewer.

Reporters should also speak with a lower pitch to sound more authoritative so audience members feel confident in their reporting abilities and credibility.

However, be careful not to completely abandon your natural voice, because an obnoxious theatrical news voice can distract the viewer from the story, which is the main focus.

Vary speaking pace and always articulate

Talking quickly portrays an excited tone. Talking slowly portrays a more serious tone.
A reporter’s pace should reflect the moods of a story.

Broadcast reporters must be careful not talk too quickly that the audience does not understand what the reporter is saying or too slowly as they might sound boring.

Broadcast reporters only have one chance to present their message because the viewer does not always have the option to watch the report again, unlike print where the reader can reread a sentence as many times as they desire.

Articulating will help ensure viewers understand every word.

Example of good use of voice:

Reporter Elissa Harrington effectively uses her voice to emphasis certain words to highlight the intensity of the San Bruno gas line explosion in California.

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

In Harrington’s live shot, she puts emphasis on the location and time of the explosion so it is clear to viewers where and when the explosion occurred, so they know if the explosion affects them or anyone they know.

When she says the authorities are not letting anyone back into the area of the explosion, she raises her voice on the word “anyone.” By emphasizing the word “anyone,” Harrington has made it clear people should not return to the area as it is still unsafe.

She also emphasizes words such as “huge,” “loud,” “giant, and the word “never” in the phrase “things will never be the same,” by slowing her pace of voice and using inflection, giving the viewers a clear understanding of the devastating magnitude of the explosion.

Harrington effectively tells the urgency of the situation when she stresses the word “seconds” when she describes how much time people in the area had time to evacuate.

Throughout the live shot Harrington speaks in an authoritative tone by using a lower pitch of voice, establishing herself as a credible source for information.]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 00:23:08 +0000Outlook for television news and its audience - by: tognaihttp://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/23-outlook-for-television-news-and-its-audience#15
http://cordilleraviews.com/forum/media-and-information-literacy/23-outlook-for-television-news-and-its-audience#15
Although research conducted by Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism: The State of the Media reflected on the economic decline of local news television stations, shrinking staffs, and the sharing of news content among stations, there is still hope for television reporters.

At the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Bob Papper of Hofstra University reported 45 percent of station revenue came from TV news.

Papper also noted TV news is covering more mediums by turning to social media sites and posting its content on the web. The average local broadcaster’s salary is even up by 2.5 percent.

With these positive statistics, it seems that TV news may just be going through a rough patch with the creation of new technology. But once TV broadcasters learn how to use this technology to their advantage, the state of television news will hopefully improve.

How people get their news

In a survey by the Pew Research Center, 58 percent of Americans said they watched the news on TV yesterday. This number has not changed much over the last ten years, which is reassuring to television reporters as viewership has remained stable.

However, using the Internet to consume news is growing.

In a Pew Internet report, it states after local and national television news, the Internet is the most used platform to consume news. It also says 92 percent of Americans consume news using multiple platforms.

The chart below, made by the Pew Research Center, shows the percentage of how people of different ages consume news.

This image is hidden for guests.Please log in or register to see it.

Using the Internet to increase viewership

It is beneficial for television news stations to use web sites and social media to add to their content and expand audience viewership.

With station web sites, news stations can delve deeper into the content of a minute-thirty video package.

Using social media sites, such as having a twitter account or Facebook fan page, enables communication and interaction between the viewer and the reporter because the viewer is able to give feed back to the reporter or comment on a report, and the reporter can respond.

This communication creates a relationship between the newscasters and viewers, and therefore the potential for more loyal audience members.

As seen from the chart above, a larger percent of people over the age of 40 turn to the TV for news compared to people under the age of 39. Using twitter could help increase younger viewership because 33 percent of twitter users are between 18 to 29-years-old while 22 percent are between 30 to 49-years-old.

If a twitter user sees a tweet about the latest story a reporter is covering or a link to a video package they might be more drawn to the station and could become another viewer.

Know the demographics of your audience to improve viewership

Reporters should familiarize themselves with the cities/state where they work. Know the make-up of your viewers and what interests them.

If you are a reporter who works at a station in a military town, try to find story ideas or angles that relate to or affect the military or their family. If you live in an eco-friendly community try to find stories about the environment or tie it into your story.

People like to hear about things that directly impact them or are relatable. Knowing who lives in the city you are covering can help produce more engaging stories if the reporter considers the audiences’ interests.

When pitching story ideas think about….
1. Who cares? Who does this affect?
2. What is the impact?
3. How can I make this story more interesting for my audience?]]>Media and Information LiteracyFri, 01 Dec 2017 00:17:32 +0000